Hair trimmer attachment for electric shavers

ABSTRACT

An auxiliary long-hair trimmer cutter head attachment for an electric shaver, the attachment including a fixed cutter, a movable cutter and a cutter drive member for supporting the movable cutter and maintaining the latter in cutting engagement with the fixed cutter.

United States Patent Demci et al.

[ 51 3,672,049 51 June 27, 1972 HAIR TRIMMER ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRICSHAVERS Michael Dernci, Bridgeport; Richard Ihasz, Stratford, both ofConn.

Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y.

Oct. 22, 1970 Inventors:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.: 82,882

US. Cl ..30/90, 30/4392, 30/221 rm. c1 ..B26b 19/38 Field oiSearch..3o/34.1,9o, 122,208,209,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,046,654 7/ 1962 Letchfieldet al. ..30/210 X 3,111,755 11/1963 Futterer et al. ..30/43.92 3,290,78112/1966 Kratz ....30/346.51 3,504,433 4/1970 Futterer ..30/43.92

Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon Attorney-Charles R. Miranda [5 7]ABSTRACT An auxiliary long-hair trimmer cutter head attachment for anelectric shaver, the attachment including a fixed cutter, a movablecutter and a cutter drive member for supporting the movable cutter andmaintaining the latter in cutting engagement with the fixed cutter.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 2 7 I972 sum 1 or 5 a tZ M mkM ni Z? W M J30 m PATENTEDJUHN I972 SHEET 30F 3 [NI/47035 Inc/Mel 282214 E,Baker? llzansg AIR TRIMMER ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC SI-IAVERS IBACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention is directed to new and usefulimprovements in electric shavers and more particularly to a hair trimmercutter head attachment for such a shaver.

Electric shavers are known to include cutter heads that comprise astationary outer cutter member having a plurality of hair receivingopenings and a movable inner cutter member. In shaving, hair is removedas it enters the openings in the outer cutter member and it is shorn offby the movable lnner cutter. Problems are presented in using such ashaver to trim sideburns and moustaches as it is difficult to manipulatethe cutter head of the shaver around these areas.

One known shaver is equipped with an extra cutter head arrangementintended for use solely as a hair trimmer. The hair trimmer comprises afixed elongated cutter having comb-like teeth projecting from the shavercasing. The trimmer further includes an elongated movable cutter havingsimilarly arranged teeth in cutting engagement with the fixed cutterteeth. As the trimmer teeth project from the shaver casing it is afairly simple matter to manipulate the shaver around sideburns andmoustaches for trimmingpurposes. However, this hair trimmer deviceoperates simultaneously with the cutter head that is used for shaving.Consequently, the movable hair trimmer cutter is in constant movementduring shaving whether or not trimmer use is desired. In another knownshaver, the shaving cutter head is detachable from the shaver casing forinterchange with a separate and detachable trimmer cutter head havingprojecting comb-like cutter teeth. The detachable trimmer device can besubstituted in place of the shaving cutter head when a hair trimmingoperation is desired. However, this trimmer device comprises in additionto the cutters and cutter drive member, a separate mounting plate tosupport the movable cutter and a plurality of springs and spring guidesprovided in the mounting plate to bias the movable cutter into cuttingengagement with the fixed cutter. Manufacture and assembly of thisdevice is costly' and time consuming due to the intricate arrangement ofsprings and spring guides therein. It is'an object of this invention toprovide a novel long-hair trimmer for shavers.

Another object is to provide a novel long-hair trim'mer attachment foran electric shaver wherein the trimmer attachment includes novel meansfor biasing the cutter members therein into cutting engagement. Y

A further object is to provide a novel long-hair trimmer attachmenthaving novel means for securing the fixed and movable cutters within thehair trimmer attachment casing.

A still further object is to provide a novel hair trimmer attachmenthaving novel means for oscillating the movable cutter. Still anotherobject is to provide a novel springless hair trimmer cutter headattachment for an electric shaver, which attachment serves as anextension of the shaver casing.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention contemplates a novel hairtrimmer cutter head attachment for an electric shaver and whichattachment forms an extension of the shaver casing.

In one embodiment, the hair trimmer cutter head attachment comprises acap open at one end for detachable mounting to the upper portion of anelectric shaver casing. A fixed cutter member having projectingcomb-like cutter teeth at one edge thereof is secured within the capopposite the opening, and the cutter teeth protrude through an elongatedslot provided in the cap. An elongated cutter drive member is providedwithin the cap adjacent the fixed cutter member and carries a movablecutter member having teeth which cooperate with the teeth of fixedcutter member to out long hairs.

. The cutter drive member has a floating portion which carries themovable cutter member for'movement and a pair of arms which exert aforce on the movable cutter member,

pivotally biasing it into engagement with the fixed cutter member.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willappear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows taken together with the accompanying drawingswherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective partial view of the upper portion of an electricdry shaver having a known detachable shaving cutter head mountedthereon;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective partial view of the shaver with along-hair trimmer attachment in place of the cutter head and adapted tobe mounted onthe shaver casing to form an extension thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the fixed and movable cuttermembers and the cutter drive member disassociated from the cap; 7

FIG. 4 is a section taken transversely of the assembled longhairtrimmer;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the trimmer cutters;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the cutter drive member of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings for a more detaileddescription of the present invention and more particularly to FIG. 1,hereof, the reference character 10 generally designates a known electricshaver having a casing 11 detachably mounting a cap 12 which carries anundulated sheet-like member 14 having apertures 16 therein. Areciprocating inner cutter (not shown) is carried within cap 12 to shearoff facial hairs which protrude through such apertures when used by anindividual in shaving. A latch member 18 is provided in the side of thecasing 11 to detachably secure cap 12 to the casing. The foregoingstructure is quite satisfactory in shaving ofi hair from a man's facebut when the hairs are too long, such as when the hair is part of amoustache or ofsideburns, other structure must be used to trim the hair.In such cases a different type of hair cutting structure is required andwhich to date generally included a pair of flat plate-like members insliding engagement and with comb-like teeth formed thereon to cut longhairs.

To this end, the present invention provides a novel long-hair trimmergenerally designated by the reference character 20 (FIG. 2) and includesa cap 22 open at one end 24. Cap 22 has a pair of transversely extendingside walls 26, a pair of longitudinally extending front and rear walls28 and 29 respectively,

and a top inclined wall 30 (FIG. 4). An elongated slot 32 is formed infront wall 28 (for a purpose to be presently described) and extendssubstantially the length of the front wall. A projection 34 (FIG. 2) isformed on the inner surface of one side wall 26 to cooperate with latch18 in detachably securing or mounting cap 22 onto shaver casing l l.

A comb-like cutter member 36 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is secured to the innersurface of top wall 30 by peened-over bosses 38 which extend throughopenings formed in a pair of legs 40 (one shown in FIG. 3) of member 36.As best seen in FIG. 4, member 36 is substantially flat but is bent at44 adjacent one edge thereof where it has formed a set of comb-likecutter teeth 46. Disposed in sliding contact with member 36 are cutterteeth 48 formed at one edge of a movable cutter member 50. Member 50 isbent as at 52 to extend then in parallel relationship with legs 40 ofmember 36 (FIG. 4), the two cutter members 36 and 50 extending throughthe elongated slot 32 at their bent portions 44 and 52, respectively.Cutter member 50 is substantially flat and is provided with a largesized opening 54 surrounded by a pair of parallel arms 56 and 58 and anend 60 remote from but in parallel relationship with cutter teeth 48.Arms 56 and 58 are provided with openings 61 which are dimensioned toreceive pins 62 formed on a floating intermediate body portion 64 of acutter drive member 66 (FIGS. 3 and 6). Cutter drive member 66 has ends68 and 70 which are secured to bosses 72 and 74 by suitable fasteningmeans as, for example, screws 76. As better seen in FIG. 3 bosses 72 and74 shown in phantom view are seated in recesses 77 and 78 formed in ends68 and 70, respectively.

Cutter drive member 66 is formed of suitable plastic material as, forexample, nylon which makes it possible to have flexible hinge-likemembers 79 and 80 joining floating portion 64 to ends 68 and 70.Floating portion 64 has inclined surfaces 82 from which pins 62 extendto accommodate the arms 56 and 58 of cutter member 50 in a generallyinclined position and parallel to the inner surface of top wall 30.Floating portion 64 has a pair of parallel ribs 84 and 86 joininginclined surfaces 82 and said ribs extend above surfaces 82 to engageand restrain movement of anns 56 and 58 with respect to surfaces 82.Ribs 84 and 86 define an opening 90 and disposed in alignment therewithare a pair of upwardly extending tongues 92 which are dimensioned toreceive therebetween a cutter drive arm 94 (FIGS. 2 and 3) operativelyconnected to a motor (not shown) in casing 11. Ends 68 and 70 of cutterdrive member 66 have integrally formed therewith a pair of arms 96 and98 which extend parallel to, but spaced from, floating portion 64. Thefree ends of arms 96 and 98 are provided with protruberances 99 which asshown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, engage remote end 60 of movable cutter member50. Arms 96 and 98 are somewhat but not completely rigid and whenmovable cutter member 50 is assembled to the cutter drive member 66,member 50 is flexed slightly whereby arms 96 and 98 tend to pivot member50 about pins 62 and inclined surfaces 82 to urge cutter teeth 46 and 48in firm sliding contact with each other.

In operation, when the electric motor (not shown) in casing 11 isenergized, cutter drive arm 94 is reciprocated to engage the oppositelydisposed tongues 92 at either end of its travel to move in like fashion,floating portion 64. Flexible hinge members 78 and 80 by nature of theirconstruction ermit movement of portion 64 even though ends 68 and 70 arefixed. Portion 64 in turn moves cutter member 50 relative to fixedcutter member 36 whereby cutter teeth 46 and 48 become effective toshear or trim long hair which enters between said teeth.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the long-hair trimmerattachment described above provides novel structure whereby the movablecutter is biased into sliding engagement with the fixed cutter withoutthe utilization of springs. A further advantage is that the cutter drivemember 66 may be secured directly to the trimmer cap 22 therebyeliminating the necessity of providing separate supporting means for themovable cutter. Moreover, the novel trimmer attachment comprises aminimum number of component parts simplifying assembly thereof andreducing manufacturing cost.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been illustratedand described in detail it is to be specifically understood that theinvention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in thedesign and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as same will now be understood by those skilledin the art.

What is claimed is:

1. An auxiliary long-hair trimmer for electric shavers comprising,

a. a cap adapted to be mounted in a shaver casing,

b. a fixed comb-like member having a set of spaced cutter teeth,

c. a movable cutter member having a second set of spaced teeth formedthereon and mounted to provide cooperation between said sets of teeth toout long hairs, said movable cutter member having a bridge portionextending away from said second set of teeth, said portion furtherhaving an end remote from said second set of teeth,

d. means mounting said movable cutter member for movement with respectto said fixed comb-like member, said mounting means supporting saidmovable cutter member at said bridge portion for movement relative tosaid fixed comb-like member, and said mounting means provided with meansfor flexing said movable member and pivotally urging said remote endabout said bridge portion so as to press said movable cutter intoengagement with the fixed comb-like member.

2 The auxiliary long-hair trimmer of claim 1 wherein the fixed comb likemember and said movable cutter member are carried by the cap, and a slotis provided in the cap through which the two sets of teeth protrude.

3. The auxiliary long-hair trimmer of claim 2 wherein said mountingmeans includes a cutter drive member having a floating intermediateportion and two ends secured to said cap, said intermediate portion ofthe cutter drive member having means thereon engaging the bridge portionof the movable cutter member to effect flexing of said movable cuttermember.

4. The auxiliary long-hair trimmer of claim 3 wherein the floatingintermediate portion of the cutter drive member is joined to the twoends of the latter by flexible hinges integrally fonned with thefloating intermediate portion and the two ends.

5. The auxiliary long-hair trimmer of claim 3 wherein the movable cuttermember has opposed substantially flat surfaces, and said means pivotallyurging the remote end of said movable cutter member includes arm meansextending from the cutter drive member, said arm means being inengagement with one of said surfaces of the movable cutter member andsaid floating intermediate portion being in engagement with the other ofsaid surfaces.

6. The auxiliary long-hair trimmer of claim 5 wherein said arm meansincludes first and second arms aligned with each other and arrangedparallel to the two sets of teeth, and said floating intermediateportion of said cutter drive member has an aperture for receiving adriving arm to actuate same.

t I t i k

1. An auxiliary long-hair trimmer for electric shavers comprising, a. acap adapted to be mounted in a shaver casing, b. a fixed comb-likemember having a set of spaced cutter teeth, c. a movable cutter memberhaving a second set of spaced teeth formed thereon and mounted toprovide cooperation between said sets of teeth to cut long hairs, saidmovable cutter member having a bridge portion extending away from saidsecond set of teeth, said portion further having an end remote from saidsecond set of teeth, d. means mounting said movable cutter member formovement with respect to said fixed comb-like member, said mountingmeans supporting said movable cutter member at said bridge portion formovement relative to said fixed comb-like member, and said mountingmeans provided with means for flexing said movable member and pivotallyurging said remote end about said bridge portion so as to press saidmovable cutter into engagement with the fixed comb-like member.
 2. Theauxiliary long-hair trimmer of claim 1 wherein the fixed comb-likemember and said movable cutter member are carried by the cap, and a slotis provided in the cap through which the two sets of teeth protrude. 3.The auxiliary long-hair trimmer of claim 2 wherein said mounting meansincludes a cutter drive member having a floating intermediate portionand two ends secured to said cap, said intermediate portion of thecutter drive member having means thereon engaging the bridge portion ofthe movable cutter member to effect flexing of said movable cuttermember.
 4. The auxiliary long-hair trimmer of claim 3 wherein thefloating intermediate portion of the cutter drive member is joined tothe two ends of the latter by flexible hinges integrally formed with thefloating intermediate portion and the two ends.
 5. The auxiliarylong-hair trimmer of claim 3 wherein the movable cutter member hasopposed substantially flat surfaces, and said means pivotally urging theremote end of said movable cutter member includes arm means extendingfrom the cutter drive member, said arm means being in engagement withone of said surfaces of the movable cutter member and said floatingintermediate portion being in engagement with the other of saidsurfaces.
 6. The auxiliary long-hair trimmer of claim 5 wherein said armmeans includes first and second arms aligned with each other andarranged parallel to the two sets of teeth, and said floatingintermediate portion of said cutter drive member has an aperture forreceiving a driving arm to actuate same.